MATTHEW Hatton has to beat Alan Bosworth at the Don Valley Stadium tonight to line up a shot at the British welterweight title early next year.

Tonight's fight against the experienced Northampton fighter has been accepted as an eliminator for a shot at a Lonsdale Belt, after a touted fight against Neil Sinclair fell through.

But victory would put Hatton right in the mix for a British title shot - and it could even be his next fight if current champion Kevin Anderson vacates to pursue bigger things.

Anderson has been slated to fight Eamonn Magee - a former victim of Hatton's elder brother Ricky - early next year, but could be ready to vacate his title, which would leave Magee, Ross Minter, Colin McNeil and the winner of tonight's bout to squabble over the belt.

"I can't wait to show people just how much I have improved," said 25-year-old Hatton, who hit a glitch in his career when he lost twice and drew another in 2002 and 2003.

Since then he has progressed well and is on a winning streak of 11, taking his full record to 28 wins, two defeats and a draw.

Hatton, whose last outing saw him take a split decision over Jose Medina on the undercard of Ricky's win over Luis Collazo in Boston in May, added: "I don't think there is anyone out there who has improved as much as me over the last couple of years."

The wrangle between Ricky and former promoter Frank Warren has slowed Matthew's progress. Out of family loyalty, Matthew also quit Warren, who puts on more shows than any other British promoter.

Fights

That has meant less outings for Matthew, but he is unconcerned, saying: "I would like to have been a bit more busy, but since we joined up with Dennis Hobson as our promoter, I have boxed twice in Sheffield as well as fighting in Monte Carlo and Boston.

"And now I know that in the next couple of fights I will be boxing for the British title.

"Dennis has said he would get me bigger fights, and he has been true to his word."

The British Boxing Board of Control had originally invited purse applications for Hatton to face Blackley fighter Thomas McDonagh in a British light-middleweight title eliminator, but Hatton says that was a non-starter.

The Board based its decision to put Hatton forward on the fact that he won the central area title at 11 stone after moving up a division for that one fight, but had no intention of moving above the 10st 7lbs welterweight mark permanently.

"Even when I boxed for the central area title I was well below the light-middleweight limit," said Hatton.

"I did get a letter from the Board saying I should be fighting Thomas, but I am a lot fitter at welterweight.

"That letter was a bit out of the blue. I did box Thomas as an amateur and beat him on points, but that is not the right weight for me.

"I can't ever see us meeting because there is no way Thomas would move down, and I am meeting the welterweight limit OK.

"That is fine by me because I know and like Thomas, and I am sure he will get someone else for the eliminator and do really well."

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